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Trip from Bloomington, MN to Esko, MN

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

2h 47m

Distance

149.9 mi

241 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 37m ★
6 AM
2h 48m
8 AM
3h 9m
10 AM
2h 55m
12 PM
2h 53m
3 PM
2h 56m
5 PM
3h 8m
8 PM
2h 41m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Bloomington, MN, MN

Bloomington, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 149.9-mile drive from Bloomington, MN to Esko, MN, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in under three hours. With a projected fuel cost of around $22, it's an economical choice for a single-day excursion. The route primarily utilizes I-35W and I-35, making it a highway-focused journey through the Midwest. Given its manageable distance and duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination and return without needing an overnight stay. You'll experience a consistent driving environment for most of the way.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

74.9 miles from Bloomington, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for 99% of this 149.9-mile route. You'll spend the majority of your time on I-35W and I-35, which are designed for efficient travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a substantial 109.5 miles on I-35. This means the road character is consistent for extended periods, offering a predictable driving experience. While primarily interstate, the final segment involves Thomson Road, offering a slight change of pace as you approach Esko.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 109.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 149.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 9.2 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Take the ramp toward I 35W North

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Toward I 35W North
6
9.2 mi into trip | ~12m in | I 35W

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
14.8 mi into trip | ~20m in

Take the exit toward MN 36

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 22B Toward MN 36
6
15.4 mi into trip | ~20m in | I 35W

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
22.5 mi into trip | ~29m in | I 35W

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 35 109.5 mi 1h 57m
I 35W 38.7 mi 46m
Thomson Road 0.7 mi 1m
West 90th Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 35 — 109.5 mi, about 1h 57m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bloomington, MN and Esko, MN.

1

Start on West 90th Street

163 ft · 10 sec · West 90th Street
2

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward I 35W North
3

Merge onto I 35W

9.0 mi · 12 min · I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W

5.6 mi · 7 min · I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 25 sec
Exit 22B Toward MN 36 Use the slight right lane.
6

Merge onto I 35W

0.3 mi · 19 sec · I 35W
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

7.1 mi · 8 min · I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

17 mi · 18 min · I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

110 mi · 1 hr 57 min · I 35
10

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 58 sec
Toward CR 1: Esko, Thomson
11

Turn left onto CR 1

0.7 mi · 1 min · Thomson Road
12

Arrive at destination

CR 1

Trip Plan

For this approximately 2-hour and 47-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Bloomington to maximize your day. Since the route is primarily highway and totals just under 150 miles, you likely won't need more than one planned stop for fuel or a quick break. The longest stretch on I-35 is over 100 miles, so be sure to top off your tank before you leave Bloomington, as fuel options might be less frequent during that long segment. The estimated fuel cost is $22, making it a budget-friendly trip.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.9 miles from Bloomington, MN, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.5 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 31m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 74.9 miles or 1h 25m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Esko, MN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Bloomington, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Bloomington, MN

This is one driving day of about 149.9 miles and 2h 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bloomington, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 109.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 74.9 mi from Bloomington, MN · 1h 25m into the drive

Downtown Birchwood, MN, MN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Birchwood, MN

75 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Pine City, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Pine City, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 74.9 miles from Bloomington, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 109.5 miles.

Arriving in Esko, MN

The final approach into Esko, MN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Esko, MN.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.31 one way

$44.62 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $24.04 $48.07
premium $4.53 $26.75 $53.49
diesel $5.61 $33.10 $66.19

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 52.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 45 0 $15.74 $7.20
Efficient EV 37.5 0 $13.12 $6.00
EV Truck/SUV 60 0 $20.99 $9.59

Gas CO2

52 kg

EV CO2

18 kg (65% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 hours ago

Origin

Bloomington, MN

Afternoon in Bloomington on Tuesday

Local time

4:31 PM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

NW 5 mph 20% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:10AM CDT until April 20 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:10AM CDT until April 21 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND

Destination

Esko, MN

Afternoon in Esko on Tuesday

Local time

4:31 PM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

6 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 47m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Bloomington, MN to Esko, MN covers 149.9 miles and takes about 2h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, I 35W, Thomson Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74.9 miles from Bloomington, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.31 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 149.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 9.2 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Bloomington, MN to Esko, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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